For how long or How long?

 Someone asked me today in class about the use of 
For how long or How long?
This is the answer:

Back in the nineteenth century someone decided, on the analogy of a language other than English, that it was improper to end a sentence in English with a preposition, even though the language had been doing just that since its beginnings. So we're required to follow a rule in formal written English that says we must put the preposition and its objects in the correct order near the word they modify.
So in formal English we write: "For how long have you been in therapy?"
In colloquial U.S. English we say: "How long have you been in therapy for?"
The particular example you chose has a simpler solution that works in both formal and colloquial English: just omit "for," since "how long" and "for how long" are synonymous: "How long have you been in therapy?"
Most other prepositions in questions can't simply be discarded: "To whom did you give the message?" is formal while "Who did you give the message to?" is standard in spoken U.S. English. Note the nominative case of the pronoun "Who," also colloquial. 

Spanish Explanation / Ahora en Español:

 Algunas indicaciones para diferenciar How long? y For how long? em inglés. Como regla general diremos que las preposiciones en las preguntas informales van al final de la pregunta. En este caso en concreto la mejor solución es usar How long? Ya que significa "¿Por cuánto tiempo? Y es equivalemte a for how long? que queda algo redundante.

¿Por qué los niños piden chucherías en Halloween? Whydo kids ask for sweets in Halloween?

¿Sabéis por qué los más pequeños van piediendo chucherías por las casas la noche de Halloween?

Os cuento de dónde viene la leyenda...

Los celtas dejaban dulces y comida afuera de sus casas para no “enfurecer” a los espíritus que pudieran estar sueltos ese día y usaban máscaras de formas diabólicas con figuras y decoraciones para “darles miedo” y alejarlos.

Es por eso que los niños se tienen que disfrazar para ir recorriendo las casas pidiendo dulces bajo el lema “trick or treat” (literalmente traducido como “truco o trato” pero mejor conocido como “dulce o travesura”), la travesura hace alusión a la “maldad” de los espíritus.

It all comes from an ancient custom at the time of Celts, they left some food outside in order to calm down the evil spirits. They believed that the spirits didn't come in and that's why they also set some terrifing masks and decorations to scare the spirits and ghosts.

This old tradition has been adapted by children who are supposed to be the evil spirits and if you don't give food or chocolates as in the past they will play some tricks on you!!

Happy Halloween!

Question Tags practice

See if you can finish the following sentences with the correct question tag. The first ones are relatively easy, but then they get more difficult!

• You don't like me, ... ...?
• It isn't raining, ... ...?
• You've done your homework, ... ...?
• I'm not late, ... ...?
• I'm invited to your party, ... ...?
• You like German food, ... ...?
• You'll come to my party, ... ...?
• You remembered to feed the cat, ... ...?
• Let's play tennis, ... ...?
• There's a problem here, ... ...?
• He never says a word, ... ...?
• Nobody came to your party, ... ...?
• Don't forget, ... ...?
• You think you're clever, ... ...?
• So you think you're clever, ... ...?

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3rd TYPE CONDITIONALS Explanation and practice

 
The 3rd conditional sentence structure is also called the past unreal conditional or past hypothetical conditional. It is used to imagine a different past than the one that happened.

((Este tipo de condicional se conoce como "IMPOSIBLES" pues ya ocurrieron en el pasado y no tenemos posibilidad de cambiar el resultado, solo nos queda lamentarnos.))

If I hadn’t eaten so much, I wouldn’t have got so fat. (Si yo no hubiera comi tanto, no habría engordado tanto)

The if clause is unreal. It did not happen. The result is what would have happened IF the if clause were real:

If I hadn’t eaten so much,

Did I eat a lot? Yes, I did. However, I’m imagining what would have happened if I hadn’t eaten so much.

What would have happened if I hadn’t eaten so much? The result:

…I wouldn’t have gotten* so fat.

Am I fat now? Yes. I would not be fat now if hadn’t eaten so much in the past. If I ate well in the past, I would not be fat now.
*In American English, ‘gotten’ is used at the past participle of ‘got.’ In British English, ‘gotten’ is not used.
[I'm not fat in real life! I am just using this as an example sentence!]

The 3rd conditional form:

If + past perfect, would have + past participle

NOTE:

*Because you are imagining the past, you can ONLY use if. In this sentence structure, you cannot use when, after, or any other time conjunction. (normalmente usaremos la partícula condicional if, ya que es pasado)

Common uses of this sentence structure:

((Usos comunes de la tercera condicional: ))

1.What would you have done if … ? (¿Qué habrías hecho si...?)

What would you have done if you hadn’t been accepted at any university?
What would you have done if we hadn’t been there to help?
What would you have done differently if you had known you would never speak to him again?

2. If I had known… (Si yo hubiera sabido que...)

If I had known that you needed help, I would have come!
If we had known you were sick, we would have gone to visit you in the hospital.
We wouldn’t have driven all this way if we had known the museum was closed.
If I had known that you needed a ride to school, I would have driven you.
I really wanted to see that movie! If I had known you were going, I would have gone with you!

3. You can use this sentence structure to express regret about something in the past, and to wish the past had happened differently. 
(Usamos la 3ª condicional para lamentarnos de una situación pasada que queremos hubiese sido de manera diferente)

If we had known the movie was so awful, we wouldn’t have wasted our money on it.
If I had finished high school and gone to university, I would have gotten a better job.

4. You can use this structure to criticize someone/something or point out mistakes:
(Para criticar algo o señalar errores)

If you hadn’t stayed out so late last night, you wouldn’t have slept in and been late for work!
It would have been quicker if we had taken a taxi to the park instead of walking.

More example sentences:

If I hadn’t gone to the party, I would have never met my husband.
We would have gone out last night if we hadn’t been so tired.
If his brother hadn’t reminded him, Dan would have forgotten his wife’s birthday.
If she had seen the ice on the road, she would have slowed down and she wouldn’t have gotten in an accident.

Other modal verbs can be used in the result clause:

might have + past participle = maybe

If I had known you would be at the party, I might have gone.
If I had known about his police record, I might not have dated him.
If he had finished high school, he might have had a better life.
If she had been wearing her seatbelt, she might have survived the car accident.

could have + past participle = possibility or ability

I could have been a world-class swimmer if I had practiced more when I was younger.
If I had known you didn’t have a car, I could have driven you to the meeting.
If my parents hadn’t lent me money, I could never have afforded university.
If you had told me the TV was broken, I could have fixed it for you!

 ONLINE ACTIVITIES to PRACTICE: (practica en tu ordenador la 3ª condicional)

1. In this exercise, you will practise forming the third conditional. Based on the example sentence, complete the third conditional sentence by filling in the spaces.

ANIMAL IDIOMS

Animals feature strongly in idioms. This is logical if we consider the various habits and characteristics of animals that we have lived side-by-side with for centuries.

a sly fox / to be as sly as a fox

Someone who is very experienced and has acquired a lot of guile.
You can’t trust him; he’s as sly as a fox.

to let sleeping dogs lie

To leave well alone and refrain from starting trouble.
You must have known that mentioning his ex-wife would upset him. You should have let sleeping dogs lie.

as stubborn as a mule

Someone who is unwilling to listen to reason or change his mind.
It’s a waste of time trying to get him to change his mind; he’s as stubborn as a mule.

a dark horse

A person of unknown abilities or a person who has kept his abilities to himself and may surprise everybody. This is a racing metaphor which says that an unknown horse which could win the race unexpectedly.
Who would have thought George would win the competition? He’s a real dark horse.

no room to swing a cat

A very small, cramped place. The original phrase was probably ‘not room to swing a cat-o’nine-tails’, and dates from the time when sailors were flogged (whipped) on ships. The floggings took place on the deck because the cabins were too small.
This room’s not big enough to swing a cat in.

to put/set the cat among the pigeons

To provoke a quarrel.
You shouldn’t have criticised the boss in your speech; now you’ve really put the cat among the pigeons.

a dog’s-body

One who does the routine or mechanical work, especially that which no one else wants to do.
When I worked in the factory I was the dog’s-body; I was given all the worst jobs.

as weak as a kitten

Feeble, very weak, having no strength.
After her operation she felt as weak as a kitten.

LEARNING WITH SONGS: Say Something, A great big world

Today we learn English with songs. Hoy aprendemos con esta bella canción romántica.
Songs are extremely useful to improve your pronunciation and listening.
Esta canción es muy sencilla.
If you don't know the wods in bold, learn them! Si no sabes las palabras de colores apréndelas, son muy útiles.

 
LYRICS
Say something I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one if you want me too
Anywhere I would have followed you
Say something I'm giving up on you
And I am
Feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all
And I will Stumble and fall
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl
Say something I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would have followed you
Say something I'm giving up on you
And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye
Say something I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would have followed you
Say something I'm giving up on you
Say something I'm giving up on you
Say something.


Letra traducida en español
Diga algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Yo seré el único si tú me quieres también
Donde quiera yo te hubiera seguido
Diga algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Y me
Siento tan pequeño
Estaba sobre mi cabeza
Yo no sé nada en absoluto
Y voy
A tropezar y caer
Todavía estoy aprendiendo a amar
Apenas comenzando a gatear
Di algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Lo siento por no poder tenerte
Donde quiera yo te hubiera seguido
Di algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Y voy a tragarme mi orgullo
Tú eres a quien amo
Y estoy diciendo adiós
Di algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Lo siento por no poder tenerte
Donde quiera yo te hubiera seguido
Di algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Di algo que me estoy dando por vencido por ti
Di algo.

FOOD IDIOMS

 Idioms are very important to sound natural in English, here are some food idioms, together with definitions and examples:

Las expresiones idiomáticas o "Frases Hechas" son muy importantes en Inglés, así sonaremos más natural al hablar. Estos son algunos divertidos "dichos" relacionados con la comida.

as cool as a cucumber

To be very relaxed and calm in a particular situation
The Swedish tennis player Bjorn Borg was known for always being as cool as a cucumber on court. He never looked nervous or stressed.

not my cup of tea

Something is not to your taste.
Beach holidays are not my cup of tea: I much prefer going sightseeing in cities.

don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Spread your risks; don’t depend on one thing
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by investing all your money in one company. Invest smaller amounts in several companies.

take something with a pinch of salt

Don’t automatically believe something / Don’t immediately assume that someone is telling the truth.
You should take what she says with a pinch of salt – she’s always exaggerating.

a bad egg

Someone who is often in trouble and is not to be trusted
My mum says that John Smith is a bad egg and she doesn’t want me to be his friend. She says he’ll get me in trouble.

have your cake and eat it

You can’t always have everything / you can’t have two opposing things or situations.
Mike loves his easy part-time job and all the free time he has, but he says he wants to be rich and successful. He can’t have his cake and eat it – if he wants more money he’ll have to get a full-time job.

the apple of my eye

To love and adore someone.
My daughter is the apple of my eye.

cheesy

To be kitsch and / or without style
That film was so predictable and unoriginal – it was just a cheesy love story.

to butter someone up

To be especially nice to someone or give someone something in order to get what you want.
She doesn’t usually speak to me but yesterday she was buttering me up after she heard I had been promoted to a higher position at the company.

in a nutshell

Basically / to summarise.
He’s selfish, greedy and impolite. In a nutshell, he’s horrible.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE ASLEEP

Today I show you my second book for the English Readers Collection:

We thought we were asleep

LEVEL: A2-B1. 4ESO, 1 Bahillerato.
AUTHOR: Rafael Alcolea Harold 
Author's webpage: www.rafaelalcolea@blogspot.com.es
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult.
Pages: 20
 PLOT:
 
Every year the goverments around the world give us a pill to sleep for some hours. The whole planet remains asleep at the same time, but... What would happen if you realise that you are not sleeping when you are supposed to be?
 The protagonist discovers a terrible secret hidden by the rulers of our world.
Will he escape from his fate?


Link Download for FREE: 
 http://www.bubok.es/libros/227897/WE-THOUGHT-WE-WERE-ASLEEP

Note for teachers: You are allowed to use this material in class.
Aquellos profesores que quieran usar estos materiales en clase pueden hacerlo. Solo deberán indicar la autoría del libro.

THE NEXT VICTIM

Today, we present the first title of our collection of MyPlaceforEnglish's Readers in English:

Title: The Next Victim.
Author: R. Alcolea Harold.
Genre: Mystery, vampires.
Pages: 50.
Level: Intermediate (A2, B1) / Bachillerato (1,2)
Price: 0.89€ / $1.19
Link to buy the Ebook  at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/THE-NEXT-VICTIM-ebook/dp/B00DESIHXC/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371597773&sr=1-3&keywords=the+next+victim

This text is appropriate to be used in EFL Classroom. It includes questions for the understanding of the story and further activities to be carried out in class.

También podéis adquirirlo en Amazon España o cualquier país del mundo. Este libro es el primer título de la colección de lecturas para estudiantes de Inglés de nuestra web. Esperamos os guste. Se puede descargar y trabajar en clase por su económico precio.

Enlace de Amazon españa: http://www.amazon.es/THE-NEXT-VICTIM-ebook/dp/B00DESIHXC/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371597532&sr=1-3&keywords=rafael+alcolea

Simple plan's SUMMER PARADISE WORKSHEET

Here you are the Worksheet for Summer Paradise song by Simple Plan. The keys are in the second paper, but don't cheat and look before completing the blanks and listen to the song, if you don't have it you can watch the music video in the following link:

http://www.myplaceforenglish.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/summer-paradise-next-song-for-our-class.html

I hope you have as fun as we had today in class!!

(Si estáis aprendiendo Inglés, esta es una buena canción para empezar a mejorar vuestro Listening, y es muy divertida, fácil de seguir. Si no tenéis la canción pinchad en el enlace de arriba y podréis ver el video mientras completáis la letra de la canción. Las soluciones en la segunda hoja.)

Simple Plan Paradise by radgull